Vir Chakra (VrC)Awardee: Cmde Jagdish Chandra Puri, VrC, VSM

During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Captain Jagdish Chandra Puri was the commanding officer of an Indian naval unit of the Eastern Fleet. Throughout the operations, he was called upon to operate within enemy waters, where there was constant danger to his ship from enemy mines and submarines. Undeterred, he carried out continuous probes into enemy defended harbours in Bangladesh. During one of these sorties an enemy submarine was sighted close to his ship. Captain Puri immediately swung into action and, without any regard for his safety, pressed the attack, which possibly resulted in destruction /damages to the submarine.

Throughout, Captain Puri displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.